The Price Is Right

Much-loved but less respected than brainiac quiz shows like Jeopardy! and Twenty-One, TPIR has earned its longevity by making the skills of everyday consumer life into entertainment. The show’s contestants aren’t held up as smarter than the home viewer—they are the home viewer, excitability, comfortable T-shirts and all. The show’s populism extended to its recently retired host Bob Barker, who was so much more accessible—literally, letting contestants hug and paw him—than the lectern-ensconced hosts of other game shows. How can you put an actual retail price on that?